State of Washington to buy refrigerated cars

[Anonymous]

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/6212324p-6086464c.html

It's one thing to buy grain hoppers for a relatively short haul within state boundaries. It may be a learning experience when their refrigerated cars are getting lost somewhere in the nationwide rail network.

[JoeKoh]

Gotta get the produce to the east and south somehow.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Trucking is the way to go. I have hauled sooo many apples and such out of the Yakima Valley. As long they can get the water to the trees they can continue to feed the nation.

[andrewjonathon]

Given the budget issues in Washington I'd be surprised if they get any additional money out of the state budget but it will be interesting to see if it happens.

[Anonymous]

They can budget all they want to. But if they cannot provide the water that is needed for the trees as well as support the growers who have had to cut trees down and replant then there will be hardly any apples to make such a venture profitable.

Apples in walmart I think are now 95 cents a pound. Back in 1999 I was moving these same apples to walmart for sale somewhere about 45 cents a pound. (and buying them at the company store down town for 15 cents a pound yum!)

The Columbia River was low in that time and there was not enough water to keep the trees healthy, the growers were forced to strip the land of the older trees and plant new trees which probably are just coming on-line now. I dont think we will ever see 70 cents a pound on the apples again.

Everyone has gotten used to paying 90 cents so there is no need to reduce the prices.